A native speaker of Scottish Gaelic, much of his work is in that language.
He attended Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen and did a postgraduate in teaching at Moray House in Edinburgh. He first saw Runrig play in 1973 and was approached one year later to become a member of the band. He later disagreed with his bandmates over several issues, including politics; Pete Wishart later became a Scottish National Party Member of Parliament.
Munro was elected as Rector of the University of Edinburgh in 1991, a position he held until 1994. He contested the Scottish Parliament seat of Ross, Skye and Inverness West at the 1999 election for Labour, but was defeated by Liberal Democrat John Farquhar Munro. This necessitated leaving the band, which he did in 1997, by which time it was well known that he intended to stand for election. In 2001, it was mischievously pointed out in the media that he had lost the race for the title of 'first member of Runrig to be elected to parliament', after Peter Wishart became an SNP MP at Westminster.
In 1996 he gave the prestigious Sabhal Mòr Lecture.
In 1998 Munro was elected as the first rector of the UHI Millennium Institute, a post that lasted 3 years.
Munro now enjoys a successful solo career, as well as working as the director of development at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, a college on Skye. Munro was sacked by the Scottish Football Association from his role of singing the National Anthem following complaints from fans that due to his Unionist political leanings he refused to sing a verse of Flower of Scotland about rising up and being a nation again.
Official website www.donniemunro.co.uk
City Of Lights
Donnie Munro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Enchanted ballrooms where I lost my life
I've closed my eyes
On your fairground smile
Seedy heroes and silver tills
Sinking suns on a sea of thrills
I place my bets
Trading with strangers in silhouette
I drink your health, son of the earth
Passing ships in the modern death
We're all still fired
Old emotions still burn inside
On solid ground round the mother tongue
A tower of hope, a joyful sound
You take your time
A hand of aces in a pack of lies
I found my song and I started to sing
Took me away on an olden wing
So far from home
Standing so lonely but not alone
In this empire of ache and rhyme
Lovers and best friends are running blind
I grasp your hand
Is this the only world I understand
There's a sadness
There's a joy
There's a place
There's a song that will never die
Forever
In Donnie Munro's song "City of Lights," the singer describes his experience of arriving in Paris, which he refers to as the "city of lights." He describes being enchanted by the ballrooms and seeking thrills by placing bets with strangers. Munro also mentions the presence of seedy characters in the city and alludes to the passing of time, as he notes that despite modern advancements, old emotions still burn inside.
The lyrics suggest a feeling of both excitement and melancholy as the singer navigates this new place. He finds solace in his music, which takes him away on "an olden wing." Munro also speaks to the universal human experience of seeking connection and understanding in a world that can feel overwhelming and confusing. He grasps someone's hand, perhaps someone he connects with on a deeper level, and wonders if this is the only world he can understand.
Overall, Munro's lyrics in "City of Lights" speak to the complex and often contradictory emotions that accompany new experiences and the search for meaning in unfamiliar territory.
Line by Line Meaning
I arrived in the city of lights
I reached the illuminated urban center, full of glitz and glamour
Enchanted ballrooms where I lost my life
I attended mesmerizing and captivating dance rooms where I felt like I lost myself
I've closed my eyes
I shut my eyes to all the problems and sorrows of life
On your fairground smile
I found solace in your pleasant grin
Seedy heroes and silver tills
I encountered shady and dubious individuals and money transactions
Sinking suns on a sea of thrills
The exciting but temporary nature of the sunset view amidst thrilling experiences
I place my bets
I take chances and gamble on uncertain outcomes
Trading with strangers in silhouette
Engaging in trades and negotiations with unknown and shadowy figures
I drink your health, son of the earth
I raise a toast to your well-being, fellow human
Passing ships in the modern death
People moving through life like ships passing in the night, in this modern world that lacks depth and meaning
We're all still fired
We are all still passionate and enthusiastic
Old emotions still burn inside
Past feelings and memories still ignite within us
On solid ground round the mother tongue
Feeling grounded and rooted in one's native language and culture
A tower of hope, a joyful sound
A beacon of optimism and positivity that brings joy to our ears
You take your time
You proceed slowly and deliberately
A hand of aces in a pack of lies
Having a powerful and rare advantage in a situation full of deceit and dishonesty
I found my song and I started to sing
I discovered my passion and purpose and expressed it
Took me away on an olden wing
Whisked me away on a nostalgic and old-fashioned experience
So far from home
Being distant and disconnected from one's roots and origins
Standing so lonely but not alone
Being physically alone, but feeling a spiritual connection to others
In this empire of ache and rhyme
In this world full of pain and beauty, intermingled like poetry
Lovers and best friends are running blind
Even the closest relationships can be blind to each other's flaws and struggles
I grasp your hand
I take a hold of your hand for comfort and support
Is this the only world I understand
Is life's meaning limited to what we perceive and experience in this world?
There's a sadness
There is a melancholic feeling
There's a joy
There is a feeling of happiness and contentment
There's a place
There is a location or destination
There's a song that will never die
There is a timeless melody or tune that will endure forever
Forever
Eternal and endless
Contributed by Avery H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Oliver Meyer
Thanks for sharing this! Was approx. 15 meters behind you. What an amazing and also sad evening....Cheers from Germany to Denmark and all Riggies throughout the world!
Steve Starrs
The night I was there. A great start to a brilliant night
Christian Nadolny
Runrig sadly missed
paul dixon
Brilliant night. Just wish Donnie could have done the whole show instead of Bruce
Keir Robinson
No way, Bruce was the right man. He made his mark, gave us another 20 years of Runrig. Without him I would never have got to see them live. Plus, Donnie's voice is pretty shaky here, nowhere near his prime any more. I doubt he would have held up for a 2-hour plus set as well as Bruce, even with Rory getting more vocal duties than he ever did when Donnie was in the band.
Arlene Campbell
Bruce should have gone home and let donnie do the concerts
Keir Robinson
Showing a massive lack of respect to Bruce here, without whom I would have never had the chance to see Runrig live >:(